Reps toughen electoral penalties: 2-year jail, N5m fine for vote buyers, sellers; INEC result transmission to go digital

The House of Representatives has approved sweeping amendments to the Electoral Act, introducing stiffer punishments for vote buying and selling, including a minimum of two years’ imprisonment, a N5 million fine, or both, alongside a 10-year ban from contesting elections.

The decision was taken during the clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the House Committee on Electoral Matters at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

Under the amended Clause 22 (a and c), individuals involved in the buying or selling of votes and voter cards now face significantly harsher sanctions compared with the previous maximum of N500,000 or two years’ imprisonment.

In a bid to boost electoral transparency and credibility, the House also amended Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), in addition to the physical collation of results. The new provision requires result transmission to occur simultaneously with physical collation, enhancing safeguards against manipulation.

Lawmakers further tightened penalties for presiding officers who deliberately breach procedures on counting, announcing, and transmitting results. The amended Section 60(6) prescribes a minimum fine of N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment, or both, for any officer who willfully contravenes the law.

The House also approved a clause mandating that election funds be released to INEC at least one year before general elections, ensuring early planning and efficient conduct of polls.

To curb electoral fraud, penalties for multiple voter registration were increased. Under amended Clause 12(3), offenders now risk a minimum fine of N100,000 or at least one year’s imprisonment, or both.

Additionally, the House extended the deadline for political parties to submit their list of candidates to INEC from 180 days to 210 days before an election, giving the Commission more time to process submissions.

The amendments also allow the use of electronically generated voter identification, including downloadable voter cards with unique QR codes, or any other identification prescribed by INEC, for voter accreditation and voting.